County pay grows with age, experience

Officials prepare for wave of retirements, ebb in payroll

Feb. 1, 2013

Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson pointed to the recent snowstorm as proof that experience is worth paying for. 'Nobody is complaining about the rapid response of our snowplow drivers on a day like Wednesday,' Nelson said. 'I rode with a plow driver in white out conditions inches from obstacles, but we didn't have to worry because he had been plowing the same route for 6½ years.' / Dan Powers/Post-Crescent Media

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Post-Crescent Media

As comparisons mount between public and private sector workers in the wake of changes in state law under Gov. Scott Walker, a simple difference may come down to age.

A report by the Congressional Research Service says public sector workers nationwide skew older than their private sector counterparts.

In 2010, more than half of all public workers were between 45 and 64, compared to 43 percent of that age group in the private sector.

In Outagamie County, a review by Gannett Wisconsin Media shows that top earners also carry decades of time on the job.

Rosemary Davis, the county’s Health and Human Services director, is the county’s top paid employee with a base wage of $123,344, and the second-highest paid HHS director in the state— but she also has been on the job for more than 30 years.

“It’s remarkable to think someone like Rosemary has seen six different county executives come and go,” said Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson. “As a county, we have to balance the benefits of institutional knowledge with pay.”

Nelson said the county grayed in recent years, thus pushing salaries to the tops of their scales. Outagamie County employees now average 14 years experience on the job.

But that trend could turn sharply as the baby boomers reach retirement age.

Of the county’s 1,141 employees, nearly two-thirds are older than 40. About a third, 393 employees are over 50, according to documents provided by the county’s human resources department.

“When this trend runs its course and the average age lowers in our work force, the average years of service and lower salaries will follow,” Nelson said. “We’ve also been very conservative in filling open positions.”

Nelson pointed to the recent snowstorm as proof that experience is worth paying for.

“Nobody is complaining about the rapid response of our snowplow drivers on a day like Wednesday,” Nelson said. “I rode with a plow driver in white out conditions inches from obstacles, but we didn’t have to worry because he had been plowing the same route for 6 ½ years.”

In less populous Calumet County, salaries have already ebbed, said Administrator Jay Shambeau.

Before Act 10 changes were even introduced, the county went through a round of early retirement buyouts, which reduced payroll.

“Then Act 10 came along and that took some additional individuals that chose to retire rather than stick out the results of it,” Shambeau said. “I think we’re at a good position as an organization with a healthy mix of experience. Our philosophy is always to hire the best and keep them as long as we can.”

The county’s 211 employees now average 13 years of experience on the job.